Palace Sign Puncheon On Loan

I've always as a young kid dreamed of playing at Selhurst Park, so it's a young boy's dream coming true."

Jason Puncheon

Crystal Palace are delighted to confirm the signing of Southampton winger Jason Puncheon on a season-long loan deal.

The 27-year-old has joined the Eagles on a temporary contract after completing a medical in SE25 earlier this week.

In moving to the club, Puncheon joins up with manager Ian Holloway for the second time, having played under him during a loan spell at Blackpool at the back end of their 2010/11 Premier League campaign.

Croydon-born Puncheon started his professional career at Selhurst Park with Wimbledon in 2003 and stayed with the club as they re-located to Milton Keynes.He played 26 times for the club under their new name of MK Dons, before moving to Barnet on a free transfer in July 2006. He featured almost 100 times for the north London outfit, scoring 17 goals, before being snapped up by Plymouth for £250,000.

Puncheon’s career in Devon failed to get off the ground and he spent three separate loan spells back at MK Dons, before former Crystal Palace defender Alan Pardew signed the winger for Southampton in January 2010. He became a regular in the Saints side under Pardew, although he was ineligible to play in their Johnstone’s Paint Trophy success over Carlisle at Wembley at the end of March.

Pardew was sacked three games into the 2010/11 season and Puncheon found himself out of favour with new boss Nigel Adkins. He was sent out on loan to Millwall, scoring on his debut in a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough, before netting a hat-trick against Palace in January 2011.

After hitting five goals in just seven appearances during his brief spell at The Den, Puncheon was signed by Holloway at Blackpool to aid their survival bid. But his three goals in 11 Premier League appearances were not enough to keep the Tangerines in the Premier League.

Puncheon spent another spell out on loan at QPR at the start of the 2011/12 season, but only made two substitute appearances during his time at Loftus Road. On his return to Saints, Puncheon found himself back in the first-team fold and helped the club finish second in the Championship, featuring in the 4-0 win over Coventry on the final day to seal their Premier League return.

He made 34 appearances for the club in all competitions last season and scored seven times – the last of which came in the 1-1 draw at Sunderland in May 2013.

Speaking to Palace Player about his move, Puncheon said: "I think it's a great move for myself to come and play games. Obviously Crystal Palace are my hometown club and more importantly Ian Holloway is here as well.

"I know Ollie really well. He was a massive factor in this move.

"He knows the league. He's done it before and I think he will learn from his time at Blackpool and bring it into the team here.

"I actually played for Crystal Palace as a kid when I was eight. I left and there were a few times in my career that I was due to come back but didn't. Now I'm here that's the main thing.

"I've always as a young kid dreamed of playing at Selhurst Park, so it's a young boy's dream coming true."

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